Bahrain International Investment Park (BIIP) is upbeat about its appeal to investors, following the launch of work last month (January 18) on a $90-million biscuit plant for Mondelez International at the business park in Bahrain’s Hidd area.

BIIP is now optimistic of attracting an array of suppliers to Mondelez, according to Ahmed Yousif Taqi, acting park chief.

BIIP is in negotiations with interested investors and looking at catering to the requirements of these suppliers which include the producers of ingredients that go in to the manufacture of the Mondelez products to the suppliers of packaging, plastic containers and printed material, he says.

The new plant, being built over a 250,000-sq-m area by Mondelez, the world’s leading maker of chocolate, biscuits, gum and candy, seeks to tap the rising demand in the Middle East and Africa for the company’s brands such as Oreo, Ritz, BelVita, and TUC biscuits.

The biscuit plant is the first of a four-phase development planned by Mondelez between 2015 and 2021, according to Taqi. In the initial two- to three-year phase, the plant will operate four biscuit-manufacturing lines.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Gulf Industry Fair, he said BIIP has been a regular participant at the show.  BIIP continues to exhibit at the fair as a part of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and in order to support its clients many of whom are also exhibiting at GIF, he says.

The 2.5-million-sq-m landmark development is positioned as a location for high quality foreign direct investment and export-oriented domestic projects.

BIIP enjoys a strategic location with excellent connectivity and access to both the Bahrain International Airport and the Shaikh Khalifa Sea Port in Hidd as well as direct motorway access to Saudi Arabia, via the 25-km Saudi-Bahrain King Fahd Causeway.

It offers unique incentives including: no corporate tax with a 10-year guarantee; duty-free access to GCC markets; free trade agreement with the US; 100 per cent foreign ownership; availability of serviced industrial land at competitive rates; renewable 50-year leases; no recruitment restrictions for the first five years; and duty-free imports of raw materials and equipment.

Projects from a wide range of sectors have been approved for the park including food products, medical technology, household products, electronics devices, packaging materials and electrical switchgear manufacturing. Companies can also undertake activities in export-led services including insurance claims administration, advanced information systems, software application systems and high technology printing services.

BIIP is exhibiting at Stand 1D60. - TradeArabia News Service